Examination in Marital and Family Therapy

The Purpose of the Examination

The Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Board’s (AMFTRB) Examination in Marital and Family Therapy is provided to assist state boards of examiners in evaluating the knowledge of applicants for licensure or certification. There is a wide diversity of educational backgrounds among the applicants who seek licensure or certification in marital and family therapy. AMFTRB offers a standardized examination, for use by its member boards, in order to determine if these applicants have attained the knowledge considered essential for entry‑level professional practice, and in order to provide a common element in the evaluation of candidates from one state to another.

The resources of individual marital and family therapists, AMFTRB, and PTC (Professional Testing Corporation) are used in the development and continuous improvement of the examination. These combined resources are greater than those available to any individual state board.

The Examination in Marital and Family Therapy is only part of the overall evaluation used by the member boards. AMFTRB expects that candidates will be allowed to sit for the examination only after their credentials have been examined and found to meet the education and experience requirements for licensure or certification in their respective jurisdictions. Such candidates are expected to have attained a broad basic knowledge of marital and family therapy, regardless of their individual backgrounds. The examination is designed to assess this knowledge through questions focused on the tasks that an entry‑level marital and family therapist should be able to perform, and the knowledge required to perform those tasks successfully.

Applicants who have completed the required academic and experiential preparation and who have developed the level of competence necessary for entry‑level professional practice in marital and family therapy should be able to pass the test. Neither AMFTRB, PTC, nor the member boards can send copies of past examinations to applicants, nor is there a list of recommended books or other materials for use in preparation for the examination. However, the practice domains, task statements, and knowledge statements upon which the examination detailed below, and may be helpful to candidates preparing for the examination.

Security Agreement

By taking this examination, I hereby acknowledge that I understand the following:

1. This examination and the items contained therein are the exclusive property of the Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards and constitute valuable trade secret information, the unauthorized disclosure of which will result in irreparable injury. Accordingly, I agree to hold in confidence and not to disclose to others, directly or indirectly, any information relating to the nature of the questions contained in the examination to be taken without the prior written approval of AMFTRB. I recognize that breach of this agreement may expose me to liability for damages caused to AMFTRB and to legal fees incurred by AMFTRB in preserving its rights.
2. The examination and the items contained therein are protected by copyright law. No part of this examination may be copied or reproduced in part or whole by any means whatsoever, including memorization, note-taking, or electronic transmission.
3. The theft or attempted theft of an examination is punishable as a felony.
4. I understand that reproducing, disseminating, or otherwise sharing questions or portions of questions from this examination, through any medium including verbal communications, is considered to be a violation of federal copyright law. Examples of sharing questions or portions of questions would be sharing feedback about areas covered in the examination at an examination preparation workshop.
5. My participation in any irregularity occurring during this examination, such as giving or obtaining unauthorized information or aid, as evidenced by observation or subsequent statistical analysis, may result in termination of my participation, invalidation of the results of my examination, or other appropriate action. Examples of irregularities are taking or use of notes, failure to comply with all Prometric security procedures, or attempting to communicate in any way with fellow test takers.

Test Content and Administration    top

Each year there are four different forms of the exam given. Each form is scored and statistically equated so that all four forms are of equal difficulty. This may result in a change in the number of items a candidate must answer correctly in order to achieve a passing score. This is how the consistency of the difficulty level of the four forms is maintained.

The examination consists of objective multiple-choice questions covering knowledge essential to the professional practice of marital and family therapy. Each form of the examination contains 180 items and is constructed according to the test specifications. All items are counted in computing the candidate’s score. Each item has four alternative answers, only one of which is correct. Candidates are allowed four hours to complete the examination.

The reported score equals the total number of correct responses: there is no additional penalty for incorrect answers. It is to the candidate’s advantage to answer each item even when uncertain of the correct response. The candidate should choose the single best answer to each item. No credit is given for items in which more than one response is selected. Sample items similar to those found on the examination are included at the end of this brochure.

The examination is administered through Prometric and scored by PTC, which reports the scores and relevant normative data to the administering boards and reports scores to candidates. All procedures and decisions with regard to licensure are the responsibility of the individual boards. Any questions about these procedures should be directed to the appropriate jurisdiction. The Marital and Family Therapy Examination is offered via computer to allow candidates to test one week per month. All candidates taking the Marital and Family Therapy examination will receive instructions concerning fees, deadlines, and applications from their participating jurisdiction.

Rules for the Examination

Please read the information below carefully. You are responsible for adhering to the examination rules while at the testing center.

• You must present your current driver’s license, passport, or US Military ID at the testing center.
• Candidates without valid ID will NOT be permitted to test. Temporary or paper copies of your ID will not be accepted.
• No Electronic devices that can be used to record, transmit, receive, or playback audio, photographic, text, or video content, including but not limited to, cell phones, laptop computers, tablets, Bluetooth devices; wearable technology (such as smartwatches), MP3 players (such as iPods), pagers, cameras, and voice recorders are permitted to be used and cannot be taken in the examination room. Prometric provides lockers for your personal items.
• No papers, books, or reference materials may be taken into or removed from the testing room.
• No questions concerning the content of the examination may be asked during the examination session. The candidate should read carefully the directions that are provided on-screen at the beginning of the examination session.
• Candidates are prohibited from leaving the testing room while their examination is in session, with the sole exception of going to the restroom.
• Bulky clothing, such as sweatshirts (hoodies), jackets, coats, and hats (except hats worn for religious reasons), and most types of jewelry may not be worn while taking the examination. Proctors will ask you to remove such items and place them in your locker. Please see Prometric’s Security Regulations for more information.
• All watches and “Fitbit” type devices cannot be worn during the examination.
• No food/beverages are permitted inside the testing room. Leave these items in your assigned locker.

Contact PTC at (212) 356-0660 or www.ptcny.com/contact with any questions about the Examination Rules.

Test Construction    top

The Examination in Marital and Family Therapy is developed by the Examination Advisory Committee of AMFTRB and the PTC. The development process is designed to maximize the content validity of the examination. A brief outline of the process follows:

1. Items are written at workshops, which are conducted periodically throughout the country. These workshops, attended by subject matter authorities, are led by experts in psychometrics who guide the development of new items. Additional items may be solicited individually from marital and family therapists who have expertise in a specific area.
2. All items are reviewed by subject matter experts for accuracy and validity.
3. Items, which have been approved by these experts, are reviewed by the Examination Advisory Committee for accuracy, validity and overall quality, and revised as necessary.
4. If accepted by the Examination Advisory Committee, items are entered into the AMFTRB item bank.
5. Draft forms of the examination, constructed from the item bank on the basis of validated test specifications derived from a role delineation study, are reviewed and revised by the Examination Advisory Committee.
6. The draft forms of the examination are reviewed by psychometricians and editors on the PTC staff.
7. The Examination Advisory Committee reviews and approves the final forms of the examination.
8. The approved examination is uploaded to Prometric for computer-based exam administration. Four examinations are created each year.
9. After the examination has been administered, the statistical performance of each item is reviewed by PTC and the Examination Advisory Committee prior to the scoring of the examination.

Validation of the Examination    top

Every effort has been made to ensure the validity of the AMFTRB Examination in Marital and Family Therapy. The meticulous test construction process constitutes one major facet of the validation effort devoted to the assurance of content validity.

Another major facet is the role delineation study, performed in 2013 to develop practice-relevant test specifications for the examination. First, the Examination Advisory Committee convened to define the performance domains, tasks and knowledge required for entry-level practice in marital and family therapy. This role delineation then underwent a validation study by a representative sample of licensed marital and family therapists nationwide. Task statements were rated for frequency of performance and relation to clinical competence; knowledge statements were rated for contribution to public protection and appropriateness for entry-level practice. The test specifications now in use are based on the findings of this role delineation study. The test specifications, as derived from this research, follow:

Test Specifications for the Examination in Marital and Family Therapy Practice Domains   top

Domain 01	The Practice of Systemic Therapy (23.33%, 42 items)
	Tasks related to incorporating systemic theory and perspectives into practice activities, and establishing and maintaining ongoing therapeutic relationships with the client1 system.
Domain 02	Assessing, Hypothesizing, and Diagnosing (13.82%, 25 items)
	Tasks related to assessing the various dimensions of the client system, forming and reformulating hypotheses, and diagnosing the client and family system in order to guide therapeutic activities.
Domain 03	Designing and Conducting Treatment (12.14%, 22 items)
	Tasks related to developing and implementing interventions with the client system.
Domain 04	Evaluating Ongoing Process and Terminating Treatment (17.51%, 31 items)
	Tasks related to continuously evaluating the therapeutic process and incorporating feedback into the course of treatment, as well as planning for termination.
Domain 05	Managing Crisis Situations (14.44%, 26 items)
	Tasks related to assessing and managing emergency situations, and intervening when clinically indicated and/or legally mandated.
Domain 06	Maintaining Ethical, Legal, and Professional Standards (18.76%, 34 items)
	Tasks related to ongoing adherence to legal and ethical codes and treatment agreements, maintaining competency in the field, and professionalism.
1The terms “client” and “client system” refer to the individual, couple, family, group, and other collaborative systems that are a part of treatment. The term “contextual”’ refers to factors including but not limited to acculturation, abilities, diversity, socioeconomic status, religion, spirituality, age, gender, gender identity, sexuality, sexual orientation, culture, minority stress, immigration status, and power differentials. The list of examples presented with some tasks is not exhaustive or comprehensive

Task Statements    top

01 The Practice of Marital and Family Therapy (24%, 43 items)
01.01	Practice therapy in a manner consistent with the philosophical perspectives of the discipline of systemic therapy.
01.02	Maintain consistency between systemic theory and clinical practice.
01.03	Integrate individual treatment models within systemic treatment approaches.
01.04	Integrate multiple dimensions of diversity and social justice within a systemic treatment approach.
01.05	Establish a safe and non-judgmental atmosphere using a systemic perspective.
01.06	Establish therapeutic relationship(s) with the client system.
01.07	Attend to the interactional process between the therapist and client (including but not limited to therapeutic conversation, transference, and counter-transference) throughout the therapeutic process using a systemic perspective.
02 Assessing, Hypothesizing, and Diagnosing (15.5%, 28 items)
02.01	Join with the client system to develop and maintain therapeutic alliance.
02.02	Assess client’s verbal and non-verbal communication to develop hypotheses about relationship patterns.
02.03	Identify boundaries, roles, rules, alliances, coalitions, and hierarchies by observing interactional patterns within the system.
02.04	Assess the dynamics/processes/interactional patterns to determine client system functionality.
02.05	Assess how individual members of the client system perceive impacts of relational patterns on the presenting issues.
02.06	Formulate and continually assess hypotheses regarding the client that reflect contextual understanding [including but not limited to acculturation, abilities, diversity, socio-economic status, spirituality, age, gender, sexuality, sexual orientation, culture, and power differential(s)]
02.07	Assess external factors (including but not limited to events, transitions, illness, and trauma) affecting client functioning.
02.08	Review background, history, context, dimensions of diversity, client beliefs, external influences, and current events surrounding the origins and maintenance of the presenting issue(s).
02.09	Identify client’s attempts to resolve the presenting issue(s).
02.10	Identify members of the client, community, and professional systems involved in the problem resolution process.
02.11	Assess client’s level of economic, social, emotional, physical, spiritual, and mental functioning.
02.12	Assess effects of substance abuse and dependency on client functioning.
02.13	Assess effects of domestic abuse and/or violence on individual and family system.
02.14	Assess effects of addictive behaviors (including but not limited to gambling, shopping, sexual activities, and internet use) on individual and family system.
02.15	Assess effects of sexual behaviors and disorders on client functioning.
02.16	Assess the impact, both positive and negative, of use of technology on client system.
02.17	Assess the impact of the developmental stage of members of the client system and the family life cycle stage on presenting problem formation, maintenance, and resolution.
02.18	Assess strengths, resources, and coping skills available to client.
02.19	Administer, review, and/or interpret results of standardized instruments consistent with training, competence and scope of practice.
02.20	Assess and diagnose client in accordance with current formal diagnostic criteria (e.g., DSM and ICD), while maintaining a systems perspective.
02.21	Integrate diagnostic impressions with system(s) perspective/ assessment when formulating treatment hypotheses.
02.22	Assess reciprocal influence of psychiatric disorders within the client system.
02.23	Assess influence of biological factors and medical conditions on the client system.
02.24	Assess impact of early childhood experiences and traumas on behavior, physical and mental health, and the individual and family systems.
02.25	Assess effects of occupational issues on individuals (including but not limited to military personnel, workers in geographically-dispersed locations, first responders, and medical providers).
02.26	Assess effects of occupational issues on the family system (including but not limited to families of military personnel, workers in geographically dispersed locations, first responders, and medical providers).
02.27	Determine need for evaluation by other professional and community systems.
02.28	Collaborate with client, professional, and community systems, as appropriate, in establishing treatment priorities.
02.29	Determine who will participate in treatment.
02.30	Develop a relational diagnosis for the client system.
02.31	Refer client when appropriate.
03 Designing and Conducting Treatment (24.5%, 44 items)
03.01	Evaluate and maintain quality of continuing therapeutic alliance.
03.02	Establish therapeutic contract(s).
03.03	Formulate short- and long-term goals by interpreting assessment information, in collaboration with client as appropriate.
03.04	Develop a treatment plan reflecting a contextual understanding of presenting issues.
03.05	Identify criteria upon which to terminate treatment.
03.06	Develop and monitor ongoing safety plan to address identified risks (including but not limited to domestic violence, suicide, elder abuse).
03.07	Develop shared understanding of presenting issues.
03.08	Select therapeutic interventions based on theory and relevant research (individual, couple, group, and family).
03.09	Clarify with client system the rationale for selection of therapeutic intervention.
03.10	Determine sequence of treatment and identify which member(s) of the client system will be involved in specific tasks and stages.
03.11	Choose therapeutic modalities and interventions that reflect contextual understanding of client [including but not limited to acculturation, abilities, diversity, socio-economic status, spirituality, age, gender, sexuality, sexual orientation, culture, and power differential(s)].
03.12	Develop and monitor recovery-oriented care for treatment of substance use disorders across the lifespan.
03.13	Collaborate with collateral systems, as indicated, throughout the treatment process.
03.14	Use genograms and/or family mapping as therapeutic interventions as indicated.
03.15	Facilitate client system change through restructure and reorganization.
03.16	Identify and explore competing priorities of client issues to be addressed in treatment.
03.17	Assist client(s) in developing decision-making, coping, and problem-solving skills.
03.18	Assist client(s) in developing effective verbal and non-verbal communication skills in their relational context(s).
03.19	Attend to the homeostatic process and its impact on the system’s ability to attain therapeutic goals.
03.20	Assist client to develop alternative perspective(s) of the presenting issues to facilitate solution(s).
03.21	Effect client behavior and/or perceptions through techniques (including but not limited to metaphor, re-framing, rewriting narratives, mindfulness, and paradox).
03.22	Facilitate client to attempt new/alternate ways of resolving problems.
03.23	Integrate client’s cultural knowledge to facilitate effective treatment strategies.
04 Evaluating Ongoing Process and Terminating Treatment (12%, 22 items)
04.01	Use theory and/or relevant research findings, including culturally relevant research findings, in the ongoing evaluation of process, outcomes, and termination.
04.02	Evaluate progress of therapy in collaboration with client and collateral systems as indicated.
04.03	Modify treatment plan in collaboration with client and collateral systems as indicated.
04.04	Plan for termination of treatment in collaboration with client and collateral systems.
04.05	Develop a plan in collaboration with client to maintain therapeutic gains after treatment has ended.
04.06	Terminate therapeutic relationship as indicated.
05 Managing Crisis Situations (10%, 18 items)
05.01	Assess severity of crisis situation to determine if and what immediate interventions may be needed.
05.02	Assess for presence and severity of suicide potential to determine need for intervention.
05.03	Assess for risk of violence to client from others to determine need for intervention.
05.04	Assess client’s potential for self-destructive and self-injurious behavior to determine type and level of intervention.
05.05	Assess client’s potential for destructive and injurious behavior toward others, including the therapist, to determine type and level of intervention.
05.06	Demonstrate professional responsibility and competence in forensic and legal issues (e.g., court-ordered cases, testimony, expert witness, custody hearings, etc).
05.07	Evaluate severity of crisis situation by assessing the level of impairment in client’s life.
05.08	Assess client’s trauma history to determine impact on current crisis.
05.09	Assess the impact of factors (including but not limited to acculturation, abilities, diversity, socio-economic status, spirituality, age, gender, sexuality, sexual orientation, culture, and power differential(s)) on client’s current crisis.
05.10	Develop and implement an intervention strategy in collaboration with a client designed to reduce potential harm when the client has indicated thoughts of causing danger to self.
05.11	Develop and implement an intervention strategy for client who considering causing harm to others.
05.12	Develop and implement an intervention strategy with client in a dangerous or crisis situation to provide for safety of client and relevant others.
05.13	Provide referrals to viable resources to augment management of client’s crisis.
05.14	Collaborate with involved parties to augment management of client’s crisis.
05.15	Consult with colleagues and other professionals during crisis situations, as necessary.
05.16	Assess and respond to vicarious trauma.
05.17	Teach client techniques to manage crisis situations.
06 Maintaining Ethical, Legal, and Professional Standards (14%, 25 items)
06.01	Integrate ethical codes of licensing boards, relevant professional organizations, and associations into professional practice.
06.02	Adhere to relevant statutes, case law, and regulations affecting professional practice.
06.03	Practice within therapist’s own scope of competence.
06.04	Maintain awareness of the influence of the therapist’s own issues (including but not limited to family-of-origin, gender, sexuality, sexual orientation, culture, personal prejudice, value system, life experience, and need for self care).
06.05	Maintain continuing competence.
06.06	Demonstrate professional responsibility and competence relating to legal issues (including but not limited to court-ordered cases, testimony, expert witness, and custody hearings).
06.07	Adhere to treatment agreements with clients.
06.08	Respect the rights of clients.
06.09	Address client’s expectations and questions about treatment to promote understanding of the therapeutic process.
06.10	Provide clients with written and/or verbal professional disclosures (including but not limited to fees, office policies, professional training and expertise).
06.11	Monitor and mitigate risk for potential exploitation of the client by the therapist.
06.12	Inform client of parameters of confidentiality and privileged communication to facilitate client’s understanding of therapist’s responsibility.
06.13	Assist clients in making informed decisions relevant to treatment (including but not limited to filing third-party insurance claims, collateral systems, alternative treatments, limits of confidentiality).
06.14	Consult with colleagues and other professionals as necessary regarding clinical, ethical, and legal issues and concerns.
06.15	Respect the roles and responsibilities of other professionals working with the client.
06.16	Maintain accurate and timely records.
06.17	Use technology in accordance with legal, ethical, and professional standards.

Knowledge Statements    top

01	Foundations of marital, couple, and family therapy
02	Models of marital, couple, and family therapy
03	Development and evolution of the field of marital and family therapy
04	Family studies and science (including but not limited to parenting, step families/blended families, remarriage, out-of-home placement, and same sex couples and families)
05	Marital studies and science
06	General Systems Theory
07	Expressive, experiential, and play therapies
08	Clinical application of couple and family therapy models
09	Empirically-based approaches to couples and family therapy
10	Individually based theory and therapy models (including but not limited to person-centered, Gestalt, RET, and cognitive-behavioral)
11	Impact of couple dynamics on the system
12	Family belief systems and their impact on problem formation and treatment
13	Family homeostasis as it relates to problem formation and maintenance
14	Family life cycle stages and their impact on problem formation and treatment
15	Human development throughout the lifespan (including but not limited to attachment, physical, emotional, social, psychological, spiritual, and cognitive)
16	Diverse family patterns (including but not limited to same sex couples, single parent, multiple partner relationships, and multi-generational families)
17	Strength-based resiliency across the lifespan
18	Human sexual anatomy, physiology, and development
19	Sexually transmitted infections
20	Theories of personality
21	Child, adolescent, and adult psychopathology
22	Psychopathology in aging populations
23	Impact of developmental disorders (including but not limited to child and adolescent, geriatrics, autism spectrum disorders, and pervasive developmental disorders) on system dynamics
24	Trauma (including but not limited to historical, current, anticipatory, secondary trauma response, and multiple/complex)
25	Vicarious trauma
26	Risk factors, indicators, and impact of abuse across the lifespan (including but not limited to abandonment, physical, emotional, verbal, and sexual)
27	Risk factors, indicators, and impact of grief response across the lifespan (including but not limited to end of life, death, sudden unemployment, and runaway children)
28	Risk factors, indicators, and impact of relational patterns of endangerment across the lifespan (rape, domestic violence, suicide, and self-injurious behavior)
29	Behaviors, psychological features, or physical symptoms that indicate a need for medical, educational, psychiatric, or psychological evaluation
30	Diagnostic interviewing techniques
31	Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) and International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD)
32	Standardized psychological assessment tests (including but not limited to MMPI)
33	Non-standardized assessment tests (including but not limited to genograms, family maps, and scaling questions)
34	Relational diagnostic tests (including but not limited to Dyadic Adjustment Scale, Marital Satisfaction Inventory, FACES, Prepare/Enrich)
35	Dynamics of and strategies for managing transference and counter transference (use of self of therapist, handling/control of the therapy process)
36	Stages of acculturation and multi-ethnic and multi-cultural identities
37	Implications of human diversity factors on client systems
38	Reference materials regarding purpose, use, side effects and classification of medications
39	Effects of non-prescription substances (including but not limited to over the counter medications, and herbals) on the client system
40	Education and counseling for relationship development (including but not limited to pre-marital, same-sex, and co-habiting couples)
41	Divorce and its impact on client system
42	Child custody and its impact on client system
43	Infertility and its impact on client system
44	Adoption and its impact on client system
45	Infidelity and its impact on client system
46	Trauma intervention models
47	Crisis intervention models
48	Sex therapy
49	Sexual behavior
50	Sexual abuse treatment for victims, perpetrators, and their families
51	Sexual behaviors and disorders associated with Internet and other forms of technology (including but not limited to cybersex)
52	Effect of substance abuse and dependence on individual and family functioning
53	Effects of addictive behaviors (including but not limited to gambling, shopping, sexual) on individual and family system
54	Addiction treatment modalities (including but not limited to 12-step programs, individual, couple, marital and family therapy, and pharmacological)
55	Principles and elements of recovery oriented systems of care (for addiction and substance abuse)
56	Spiritual and religious beliefs (including but not limited to eastern and western philosophies) and their impact on the client system
57	Impact of loss and grief on the client (including but not limited to death, chronic illness, economic change, roles, and sexual potency)
58	Physical health status, medical disease state, and experience of acute and chronic illness and disability and their impacts on the client system
59	Impact of clients’ use of resources (including but not limited to online assessments, educational materials, and support groups)
60	Current research literature and methodology (including quantitative and qualitative methods) sufficient to critically evaluate assessment tools and therapy models
61	Methodologies for developing and evaluating programs (including but not limited to parenting, grief workshops, step parenting group, and eating disorder support group)
62	Statutes, case law and regulations (including but not limited to those regarding clinical records, informed consent, confidentiality and privileged communication, HIPAA, privacy, fee disclosure, mandatory reporting, professional boundaries, and mandated clients)
63	Codes of ethics
64	Business practices (including but not limited to storage and disposal of records, training of office staff, work setting policies, collections, referrals, advertising and marketing, management of the process of therapy, and professional disclosure)
65	Implications of the use of technology (including but not limited to cell phones, fax machines, electronic filing of claims, and websites) by therapist and office staff
66	Ethical considerations in the use of technology (including but not limited to online supervision, electronic records, social networking, and confidentiality) by therapist and office staff
67	Impact of technology on client system (including but not limited to cell phones, sexting, texting, use of social media, chat rooms, and internet gaming)
68	Conduct of Internet therapy
69	Impact of social stratification, social privilege, and social oppression on client system
70	Influence of prevailing sociopolitical climate on the therapeutic relationship
71	Impact of economic stressors on presenting problems and treatment
72	Community systems (including but not limited to schools and human service agencies)
73	Mandated group treatment programs (including but not limited to anger management, domestic violence treatment, and sexual offender programs)
74	Group treatment, education and support programs (including but not limited to grief support, divorce recovery, and parenting; group therapy)

Verification of Scores    top

Candidates who fail the examination may request a hand scoring of their data file. Hand scoring is a manual check of the data file by the testing service to determine if there have been any errors in scoring. The probability of such an error is extremely remote. Requests for hand scoring must be submitted to and received by PTC no later than 90 days after the date of the examination. Candidates who fail the examination will not be permitted to see the examination questions. For reasons of test security, no candidate is allowed to review the examination or any of its items directly.

Official Score Transfer Request and Duplicate Score Report Application   top

To request a Score Transfer and Duplicate Score Report, candidates must complete a Score Transfer Request and Duplicate Score Report Application. The fee charged for each official transfer is $50.00. The expedited transfer is available for an additional fee of $30.00 for each jurisdiction transfer per examination. A Duplicate Score Report is available for an additional fee of $50.00 for each jurisdiction transfer per examination. Candidates must have their Candidate ID Number to complete either of the applications.

Practice Exam    top

Two practice exams of retired test items are offered through www.AMFTRB.org. Visit the website to schedule the practice exam.

Examination Advisory Committee    top

The Examination Advisory Committee is appointed by the Board of Directors of AMFTRB. Its members are chosen for their outstanding reputations and achievements in their respective specialties.

Score reporting

An official score report will be mailed to jurisdiction offices and to candidates 20 business days after the close of the testing period. More about scoring here.

Exam Dates

The National Marital and Family Therapy Examination is administered via computer. Candidates have the opportunity to take the Exam during one week of each month at testing locations offered through Prometric.

Candidates should contact their state boards concerning applications and eligibility requirements. After the state board has approved the applicant to sit for the Exam, the candidate should follow the instructions as defined by their jurisdiction.

Candidates also will be asked to fill out an additional application for PTC. Once the PTC application is completed and the examination fee of three hundred and fifty dollars ($350.00) has been received, candidates will receive an identification number and information concerning the testing centers. Candidates will be instructed to contact Prometric directly to schedule their examination date and time.

Please contact your state board directly with any questions concerning application deadlines and additional fees for licensure and application. Your state may have additional requirements that may supersede the ones outlined above.

Go to exam dates.

Exam Preparation

By design, AMFTRB does not provide any of its own study guides, workshops, books, or programs. Because we write the exam, tt would be a conflict of interest.

1. Talk/work with your supervisor. Focus on the domains (above) that you are weak in. Focus on systemic thinking and clinical skills.
2. Check with your professional association. AAMFT does training programs. Also, check your state/commonwealth/territory/jurisdiction’s professional associations for programs.  
3. Form a MFT study group with your MFT colleagues, fellow students/graduates, state association. Successful exam candidates say this has been a positive for their study.
4. There are online resources. Do some searching. Workshops, coaching, etc.
5. Check if you qualify for a ADA accommodation.
6. Check if your state allows for an ELL Special Arrangement.
7. Read the Handbook for Candidates